The question “do dogs like kisses” is a commonly asked one, but it doesn't have a universal answer. This is because dogs do not naturally “kiss” in the same way humans do and what we define as “doggy kisses”, when dogs lick our faces, isn't ultimately a sign of dog love as we may think.
The big question is therefore “do dogs understand kisses”? Because if they don't understand our well-intentioned kissing, our smooches risk being misinterpreted, which may lead to unpleasant or even risky situations. With this in mind, let's delve deeper into how dogs perceive kisses.
Key Takeaways
Dogs do not perceive our kisses in the same way us humans do.
Some dogs find face-to-face contact invasive and stressful.
When dogs lick our faces, it's not the canine equivalent of “doggy kisses”.
In some cases, dog kisses are a way for the dog to ask for distance.
When exchanging affection, it's important to keep an eye on a dog's body language.
A simple test can provide pet parents with insight into how dogs may feel.
Do Dogs Like Kisses? Understanding Dog Behavior and Affection
As a dog trainer, I often hear dog parents say that their dogs love giving or receiving “kisses” or enjoy being hugged. As a fellow human being, I totally get it. Dogs elicit strong caregiving responses and we’re naturally driven to want to smother our canine companions with affection.
We also have this deep need for receiving “unconditional love” from our canine companions and tend to interpret canine behavior through a human lens.
💡 Fun fact:
This tendency is known as “anthropomorphism”, which is defined as the attribution of human thoughts, emotions, and intentions to non-human beings.
But do dogs like when you kiss them?
From a professional standpoint, it’s important to carefully distinguish between human expressions of affection and how dogs actually respond to them (dog behavior explained).
If you want to stop guessing, PawChamp helps you read your dog’s comfort signals and choose safer ways to show affection that your dog actually welcomes.
Do Dogs Understand Kisses From Humans
The truthful answer to the question “do dogs understand kisses” lies in the way dogs naturally communicate.
Kissing is not a natural species-specific behavior observed in canines. Dog communication is manifested primarily through body language, facial tensions, vocalizations and postures.
Facial licks directed towards people or other dogs, are not real kisses as we intend them. They’re not a symbol of love, but more down-to-earth, functional behaviors. It's therefore important to distinguish dog face licking from human kissing.
Why Does My Dog Lick Me or My Face?
If dogs don't kiss like humans do, then why does my dog lick my face? Face licking among dogs is ultimately a behavior that starts early in life. As soon as puppies are born, mother dogs will clean them up by licking their faces.
This learned behavior then carries on into adulthood, with dogs licking faces as a way to "groom", maintain social bonds, or gain attention. In some cases, a dog's licking behavior may also be a way to ask for distance. The so-called "kiss to dismiss", as coined by dog trainer Jennifer Shryock, is a far cry from the affectionate kisses we humans rely on.
So if face licking is not the canine equivalent of kissing, then why does my dog lick me? Licking behavior in dogs can stem from a variety of reasons. They may be bored, happy to see us or they may like the "taste" of our skin.
💡 Think about it:
Dog licking behaviors may also occur when dogs are bored, anxious or excited to see you. In some cases, excessive licking may also be a sign of the dog feeling pain or even nausea.
Dog Body Language: Signs Your Dog Enjoys Affection
When it comes to deciphering and understanding dog body language, it's important to carefully interpret phrases such as "enjoys affection". What we label as love and affection does not map cleanly onto canine social behavior.
In these cases, it would be best to observe whether the dog finds the interaction reinforcing, tolerated, or mildly aversive. The following are some reliable indicators of a dog finding an interaction potentially positive:
Soft eyes
Relaxed facial muscles
Ears in neutral position
Loose tail wagging
Exposure of the belly with a relaxed, wiggly body
Leaning gently into contact
Reinitiating interaction after a pause (by nudging, pawing, making eye contact)
Most of the above are also signs your dog trusts you. In order to receive human affection, dogs need to feel safe and comfortable in your presence. Without trust, an interaction may be barely tolerated or it may be perceived as even mildly aversive.
How to Tell if Your Dog Likes Being Kissed
“Does my dog like kisses?” is an important question all pet parents should ponder. When we kiss our dogs, we put our face in a vulnerable position, considering how dogs may find such closeness ambiguous, intrusive, or even threatening, especially if they are restrained, approached from above, or unable to disengage.
Several warning dog signs that signal a dog struggling with our interactions include the following:
Turning the head
Lip licking
Yawning
Tight facial muscles
Freezing
Showing the whites of the eyes
On top of monitoring our dog's body language, another easy way to determine whether our dogs are appreciating our interaction is what's known as a “consent test”.
During a consent test, you provide brief contact (such as petting for a few seconds) then pause completely. You then observe what the dog does next.
Does the dog re-engage by moving closer, nudging, leaning in? Then the dog is likely “enjoying” the interaction.
Does the dog disengage, turn the head away or move away? Then most likely the contact was neutral or mildly aversive, even if tolerated.
While consent tests allow us to gain insights about how dogs feel, it's important to note that they are brief snapshots and not definitive answers. A dog may be OK with an interaction one day, and less tolerant the next.
When Kissing a Dog Helps or Hurts Your Relationship
So do dogs like being kissed? The answer is that it depends. Sure, some dogs appear to “like” being kissed because they have formed positive associations with that interaction. These dogs may have learned to associate kisses with positive attention, calm contact, or other forms of reinforcement, causing them to seek or at least tolerate them. However, it's important to note that this is not a natural preference.
Several dogs barely tolerate kisses, with some dogs even dreading them. These latter dogs suffer because kissing leads to stress and reduced trust.
With time, their tolerance can decrease, potentially resulting in clearer avoidance signals or, in some cases, defensive behaviors. We must remember that kissing is not part of natural dog communication.
From a behavioral standpoint, dog love is better expressed through interactions the dog clearly understands, seeks and gives signs of enjoying.
How PawChamp Helps?
The PawChamp was built with busy pet parents in mind. The app provides helpful guides and structured training sessions with step-by-step exercises meant to help you navigate challenging behaviors.
Its progress tracking helps you measure improvements which is critical for shaping desired behavior over time.
The Ask a Dog Expert option allows you to get real-time guidance and tips to help you better respond to your dog’s behavior, ultimately reducing guesswork and improving communication.
Bottom Line
As seen, dogs do not inherently understand kisses. Whether dogs tolerate kisses or "enjoy" them ultimately depends on several factors such as learning history, temperament, health and context. Fortunately, as pet parents we can learn how to better understand how our dogs feel, but as a dog trainer, I often feel that it's best to err on the side of caution and skip kisses altogether and opt for dog-preferred forms of interaction, such as gentle petting in areas the dog solicits, brief play sessions, or calm proximity that the dog can control.
